The Sprout
Botley W.I. 102 years old and still going strong!
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 167 May 2022
The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,
Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith, Robin Palmer
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Te l : 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
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Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for
any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not
a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in
a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual
contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.
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Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company limited by
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It can also be found online at BotleyHinksey.org.uk
The Sprout
Issue 167, May 2022
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
5 Botley in Bloom
7 Botley Artweeks
9 Flood Scheme No!
13 Flood Scheme Yes!
16 Let’s Celebrate the Jubilee
19 District Councillors
21 XVth Scouts
23 Solar Farm concerns
27 Help with Energy Bills
29 World Scout Jamboree
31 Deep Sea Beavers
33 Kennington Memory Club
35 Planning Applications
37 Randoms
39 Local Organizations
From the Editor
Welcome to a well-filled Sprout. As usual, there is a lot going on.
Oxfordshire Artweeks runs for most of the month of May, but our local
input is mainly in the first half (p7). Botley in Bloom invites entries to the
front garden competition (p5), with a special category for the Jubilee. On
page 16, ideas are firming up for the Jubilee itself sadly this does not
include the Crabtree Challenge, which failed to find an organizer! But
there’s lots of other good stuff, so get stuck in and let’s make it happen
on that long bank holiday at the beginning of June! The massive Flood
Alleviation Scheme has applied for planning permission at last, and we
are invited to send our comments by 9th May. There are strong feelings
about it, and we publish two views of what’s proposed (pp9 and 13).
Another proposal, this one still awaiting a planning application, is the
potential Solar Farm in the field beside the beacon see page 23 for a
less than enthusiastic view. Our various local Scout troops are active
(pp 21 and 31) and one lucky local lad has been picked to attend the
World Scout Jamboree in South Korea next year (p29). Our District
Councillors have started a new series of updates (p19), and Botley W.I.
are finally celebrating their Centenary, after a 2-year Covid delay, hence
our cover, which shows their original banner.
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
West Way Public Art Event
Many thanks for the organizers of the "Public Art for West Way" event
on the 19th March! It was really great to come together with the local
community and get creative in the various activities set up in the Sea-
court Hall. The mosaic workshop was especially interesting and it was
wonderful to learn from the knowledgeable instructors and to get to take
our art pieces home at the end of the day. I look forward to seeing the
mosaic pieces that the commissioned artists will create to beautify the
West Way! It would be amazing to get to do some more mosaic work
within the community in the future as well, if the instructors would be so
kind as to organize other events or workshops. Thanks again!
Local resident (name and address supplied)
The Scouts and the Baptists
It is true that we have had a very long relationship with the [15th]
Scouts. As a Church we have offered them free-of-charge accommoda-
tion, storage facilities, utilities, as well as cleaning and clearing up after
their use. Since the new development the Church building has become
multi-use, with accommodation flats above the Church, and we have
had to remind the Scouts of this situation.
In the past some of the Scouts and their parents used to worship at
Botley Baptist Church, but of late it is of considerable regret [to us that]
this relationship has waned to the point where it is almost non-existent.
The trustees of the Church have always stated that a priority of this
building must be given to Christian worship. When another local church
asked whether they could use some of the building to further their
Christian activities we willingly agreed, as this was in pursuance of our
mandate. We did write to the Scouts advising them of the situation, and
followed this up with an offer to sit down and discuss what alternative
arrangements can be made within the Church. This letter was rebuffed
and instead the Scouts decided to fire off letters to the local press,
including yourselves.
It would have been far better if the Scouts had taken up our offer,
because we believe this would have led to a much more amicable out-
come and prevented any unnecessary animosity between the Scouts
and ourselves.
We would have also appreciated, when the original letter from the
Scouts was received by Sprout, that the editor would have given us the
opportunity to respond at that time, so that we could have both present-
ed to the readership a much more rounded version of events.
Furthermore, we would like to correct the article labelled 'Manna from
Anna' [April, Randoms]. This short article gives the impression that
Anna Antell is still running the café at Botley Baptist Church, which was
run on a for-profit basis. This is no longer the case. It has now been
replaced by a café called Botley Baptist Café, which is run by several
volunteers. There is no charge for refreshments except for donations,
which are gratefully accepted and passed on to other good causes,
such as the appeal for Ukraine.
Botley Baptist Church Deacons
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Botley in Bloom
Front Garden Competition 2022
CATEGORIES:
1. Best Front Garden
2. Best Cultivated-Wildlife Front Garden
3. Best Jubilee Hanging Basket or Window Box
The last category is a special one-off for this Platinum Jubilee
Year and the judges will be looking for creativity and appro-
priate use of colour.
To register your garden (or any garden you feel the judges
should know about) just send an email with your name and
address to editor@thesprout.org. Don’t forget to say which
category you are entering for!
Entry deadline is Monday 6 June
Judging in week beginning Monday 13 June
Winners announced Monday 20 June
Botley in Bloom is sponsored by The Sprout, NHPC, and LeoQuent.
Botley Artweeks
This year our local community is strongly represented during Oxford-
shire Artweeks 40th Anniversary festival, with twenty-one artists and
makers exhibiting their work. The artists listed below form a part of the
Oxford City portion of the festival and it runs from 715th May. Details of
specific days and times of opening can be found on the Artweeks web-
site or in the Guides which are free to pick up from libraries, art venues
and our local Co-op.
Elizabeth Newbery is showing her range of functional and decorative
ceramic creations on North Street, Osney Island.
At the West Oxford Community Centre on Botley Road eight thought-
provoking emerging and established artists show a range of exciting
disciplines.
Further along Botley Road you will find Frieda Van De Poll's surreal/
fantasy drawing, painting and sculpture (Riverside Road) and John
Luke King-Salter's modernist abstractions inspired by music and litera-
ture (Helen Road).
On the edge of Elms Rise you will find The Old School Collective
triumphantly returning to the festival with six dynamic creatives showing
new work on North Hinksey Lane, and Tap Social present the work of
artist McShoesue, otherwise known as Sue Smith.
On the Elms Rise estate Ali and Jane Hogg (Arthray Road) will be dis-
playing their individual new mixed-media collages and further up the hill
Kate Hipkiss' paper sculptures and landscapes are not to be missed
(Laburnum Road). The final show on your Botley trail is on Harcourt Hill
for Becca Rowland's inaugural Artweeks exhibition of her glass work.
This Oxford event was the first of its kind in the country, though it is now
widely imitated. It maintains its ethos of supporting free exhibitions,
demonstrations and selling shows, open to all, of the highest quality art-
ists, makers and creatives. If you have an interest, please support your
local venues. You will find out how practitioners push their boundaries to
question and change the world around them and use art to work
through their own personal life challenges.
Ali Hogg
Elizabeth Newbery (11 ) WOCArt (12) Frieda V D Poll (15)
Sue Smith (16) Becca Rowland (18) Hoggs (19)
Kate Hipkiss (20) Old School (17) J-L King-Salter (14)
Oxford Needs a Better Flood Scheme
The Environment Agency (EA) has put in a planning application at last
for its Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (see Planning Apps, page 35). It
comprises floodwalls, gates, bridges, culverts, and a giant 5km channel
from north of Botley Road to south of Abingdon Road. The EA’s own
reports show that the channel is the most disruptive, costly and
damaging part of the scheme, yet it provides only marginal flood
alleviation benefits compared to the other measures.
The channel will take 3-5 years to build, cost at least £23 million,
and cause
traffic holdups: 240 HGV movements a day on the A34, a 40mph
speed limit on part of the A34, massive queues at Hinksey Hill junction.
2000+ trees to be removed, and much of the biodiversity net gain
happening offsite.
Loss of 1.3ha of rare MG4a grassland in Hinksey Meadow, with risk
of damage to the rest.
South Hinksey village to be surrounded by works compounds and
haul roads.
loss of recreation access to most of the fields between Botley
Road and Old Abingdon Road for 3-5 years, and forever to some areas.
Excavation of 455,000 cubic metres of soil and gravel with loss of
carbon sequestration.
The scheme is intended to improve flood protection: the EA’s figures
show the number of dwellings with a greater than 1% annual risk of
flooding would reduce from 1126 to 180. However, the same figures
show that the channel only accounts for 5.7% of this reduction (54
properties), which could be protected by more environmentally friendly
and effective methods.
Surely it makes more sense to adopt the scheme without the
channel: we’d get most of the benefits with far fewer costs and minimal
disruption. Meanwhile a pumped pipeline alternative with even fewer
costs and impacts hasn’t even been analyzed by the EA, despite
potentially offering more flood protection both now and in the future.
Please comment on the planning application by 9 May. All documents at
https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.
gov.uk/Planning/Display/ MW.0027
/22#u n d e fin e d under ‘Documents’.
The best document to start on is ‘ES
Non-Tec h n ic al Su m m a ry ( 36 t h
document out of 300+). Also
see https://www.oxfordfloodanden
vironmentgroup.com/ and
https://hinkseyandosney.org/.
Riki Therivel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FLASHER ALERT!! ON
THE BROOKES PLAYING
FIELDS IN EARLY APRIL.
BE WARNED!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flood Scheme Does the Job
The Oxford Flood Alliance, a group of householders who formed
themselves in response to being flooded in 2007, and who have been
the prime movers for most of the remedial work done so far, have sent
this fact check on some of the more exotic claims being made about
the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme’.
Myth 1: The two-stage channel provides very little benefit and the
scheme would work without it
The key document to look at on the County Council Planning Portal is
ES App Q Modelling Review of No Channel. This compares modelling
data for the scheme as designed with options of having no two-stage
channel at all or no channel in Hinksey Meadow. The report goes on to
discuss the impact of having no channel on the performance of various
elements of the scheme, and likely consequences.
With the channel all but 367 houses and 151 businesses are protected
against a one-in-a-hundred-year flood event. With no channel at all 524
houses and 210 businesses would be unprotected. That means an ad-
ditional 157 houses and 59 businesses would be at risk of flooding in a
one-in-one-hundred-year event. Over and above this, protective earth
bunds and walls, a key part of the scheme, would need to be higher and
longer, and in some places this would not be achievable, putting proper-
ties and infrastructure at risk.
App Q also says: In addition, the freeboard below-bridge soffits would
also need to be increased to meet agreed consenting requirements.
This would make the raised bridges more visually intrusive and increase
the length of approach ramps to bridges, which then creates additional
restrictions across the floodplain. Removing the two-stage channel just
in Hinksey Meadow would have a less severe impact on the
effectiveness of the scheme. The modelling for this option shows 438
houses unprotected (an increase of 71 compared to the scheme as
designed) and 172 businesses (21 more). The scheme is not just about
individual homes and businesses but also about general disruption to
city life. The channel provides a defined route for the additional
floodwater to pass through the western floodplain it brings certainty
and reliability. Without the channel, floodwaters are dispersed,
increasing flood risk in some areas. When all factors are weighed up,
the scheme as designed offers the best option according to the review.
Myth 2: ‘Hinksey Meadow’ will be ‘destroyed’
Hinksey Meadow, north of Willow Walk (owned by Oxford Preservation
Trust) is home to rare grassland. Most of the rest of the scheme area is
agricultural land with relatively poor biodiversity. The scheme proposes
LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE
BOTLEY COMMUNITY?
Seacourt Hall Management Committee (SHMC) is
looking for a new Secretary and Treasurer. The role
receives an honorarium of £1000 a year plus £10 a month for
miscellaneous costs.
Seacourt Hall is located in West Way Square below the Library
and provides modern, flexible facilities for our growing
community. The hall is currently the venue for a variety of
activities from exercise classes to baby groups, from martial arts
to a seniors lunch club and can be hired for parties, meetings
and more.
Check out the schedule on our website www.seacourthall.org.uk
The combined role of Secretary and Treasurer would suit someone
with some accounting, finance or similar experience, a good
understanding of financial management and reporting.
The Secretary role involves setting up and taking minutes for 4 to
6 meetings a year, being the point person for contact with the
Charity Commission and acting as the custodian of our governing
document. The role of Treasurer is to help trustees carry out their
financial responsibilities.
For more information please contact Lorna Berrett, Chairman of
Trustees at lberrett.nhpc@gmail.com
taking up to 1.3ha of Hinksey Meadow for the two-stage channel, the
rest of the meadow (11.7ha) will be preserved. Considerable attention
has been given to ensuring the hydrology is not affected by the scheme.
Across the rest of the scheme 17.8 ha of additional flower-rich mead-
ows will be created. This will obviously not have the diversity of Hinksey
Meadow, but over the life of the scheme these meadows will increase
significantly in complexity. Wetland areas will also be created along the
course of the new stream, and the whole scheme area will be actively
managed for biodiversity. None of this will happen if we maintain the
status quo.
Myth 3: Maintenance has only been budgeted for 15 years
All costs, including maintenance for 100 years, form part of the overall
economic analysis, and specific funding sources have been identified
for the first 10 years. No construction project is required to specify ex-
actly where maintenance costs will be met from fifty years from now.
That’s impossible. Any alternative proposal would face the same issue.
Myth 4: Construction means 114 HGV vehicle movements a day on
and off the A34 for 3-5 years
Construction of the channel is expected to take three years. Movement
of soil from the site will take place mainly in a 15-month period spread
over two summers. The EA is proposing to bring forward a separate
planning application to move significant amounts of material by rail,
which will substantially reduce road use.
Myth 5: Construction will bring a big increase in carbon emissions
The ES Non-technical summary for the scheme says: The whole-life
carbon dioxide emissions of the project are estimated at 19,558 tonnes
and the operational carbon is 4.65% of this (i.e. 909 tonnes), based on
the proposed maintenance regime. To put this into context, a 2019
Oxford City Council report stated that carbon dioxide emissions from the
city in 2017-18 were 718,362 tonnes per year. The emissions due to the
Scheme including operation for 100 years would be equivalent to the
direct emissions from the city for less than 10 days.
The planning documents referred to above can be found here:
https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Planning/Display/MW.0027/
22#undefined Look under ‘Documents’ and use the search bar to lo-
cate the document you are looking for. A full description of all design
options considered for the scheme is set out in the Environmental
Statement, section 2.3.
Simon Collings
Let’s Celebrate the Jubilee!
The celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum
Jubilee run from the 2nd to the 5th of June.
Both Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd are bank
holidays. In Botley we have two big
celebrations planned as well as some street
parties.
Thursday 2nd June Lighting the Beacon. Party from 7pm
At 9.45pm beacons will be lit across Britain. Ours is on top of the hill
above the Louie Memorial Field with views to the Cotswolds, the
Chilterns and the Ridgeway. We will join with people from Cumnor to
light the beacon, but first, from 7pm, there will be a party on the playing
field, with a Tap Social bar, and a barbeque (by the 15th Oxford Scouts)
or you can bring your own picnic. There will be a ‘down the decades’
family-friendly disco. Period dress welcome! From 9.15 we will collect
our candle lanterns and start to make our way to the top, and by 10pm
we should be able to pick out the lights from other beacons twinkling
around the horizon.
Saturday 4th June The ‘West Way Festival’ is back (2pm 6pm)
On the Saturday we will have our first open-air party in the new
shopping centre with music, games and entertainment for everyone.
There will be a stage on Church Way and more events in the Seacourt
Hall into the evening, including a local history exhibition (see opposite).
Local heroes the ‘Botley Crue’ will be among the performers. Food and
drink available the Seacourt Bridge will be running an open-air bar by
Te s c o . We’ll have pub games, sports demonstrations, and hopefully a
pop-up skatepark in the car park behind the library. Let’s decorate the
white hoardings on the building site opposite the Co-op!
We need your help to make West Way come to life! Would you like to
help with activities on the day? Are you part of a local organisation that
might run activities, have a stall, or help decorate the West Way
shopping area (we’ll need lots of bunting!). Would you like to perform?
Are you a resident in the new West Way flats? Shall we have a ‘be st
decorated balcony’ competition? Botley celebrations are being
supported by North Hinksey Parish Council, the Sprout and other
groups all volunteers welcome. If you would like to be part of this, you
can get more information on how you can be involved by emailing
janet.b a rtla m@n tlworld.co m If you want to perform, email
chrischurch@cooptel.net Follow our Facebook page for all the latest
updates: https://www.facebook.com/BotleyJubilee2022
On Sunday 5th June it’s the national ‘Big Lunch’ with street parties
planned all over the place we know of just two in the area so far. If
you’re planning one, please contact the Sprout. And if you want to
celebrate all the way through, the Seacourt Bridge will be having their
own Jubilee party on Friday 3rd.
PHOTOS AND MEMORIES!
Do you have any old family photos or stories that we can use for a local
history display on Saturday 4 June? This exhibition will take place in
Seacourt Hall, and will be part of the Festival events celebrating the
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. !!!!Amongst the topics we’ll be including are: !
1) Past jubilee events in the Botley area, !
2) Botley since the 1950s, !
3) Seeing/meeting royalty (wherever in the world this was),
and of course !!!!!4) The 1953 Coronation day. !
If you can, please email me your stories and photos (JPEG if possible)
on martin.harris321@gmail.com !
Martin Harris
Mark Hancox’s photo from the Sprout archive shows a slow bicycle race
under the Arthray Road bunting at the 1977 Silver Jubilee Celebrations.
District Councillors’ Notebook
Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OFAS)
The OFAS planning application has been submitted. To see the plan-
ning application and respond to the consultation, go to the Oxfordshire
County Council’s planning portal:
https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Planning/Display/MW.0027/22
If you are interested in the Environment Agency’s scheme and how it
will help your community resist future flooding events, you’re encour-
aged to have a look at their plans and respond to the consultation. It’s
open until 9th May, and the targeted committee decision date is 6th
June 2022. There’s an introductory video, outlining the plan in the con-
text of historical floods and climate change. You’ll find the video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd-tHCniXvU
Wait, there’s more! Visit the dedicated website to see videos, maps and
information about the scheme: https://consult.environment-
agency.gov.uk/thames/oxfordscheme/
Safe Places Scheme Launched in Botley
Vale of White Horse has signed up to this nation-
al scheme, which means anyone who is in need of
help or not feeling safe for any reason can go into
the shops, cafes, or businesses displaying the
Safe Places logo for help and support.
So far, Missing Bean, Andrews, Lloyds, David
Spicer's and B&Q are signed up, but we are
looking for more businesses to get involved
and for help to spread the word.
More info at: https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-
district-council/community-help-and-safety/protecting-vulnerable-
people/safe-places-scheme
Biffas electric vehicle
Have you noticed a new electric collection vehicle in the past few
weeks? Maybe not, as it’s very quiet. Check out ‘Glitterball’ here:
https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/climate-emergency/a-glittering-
future-fo r-waste-collections/
Debby Hallett and Emily Smith, our two district councillors
15th Oxford Scouts
New Venue, Same Great Activities
After a turbulent month coming to terms with our eviction from Botley
Baptist Church Hall, and exploring how best to continue our 112 year
old Scouting story we are delighted to say that the 15th Oxford Scouts
have been able to secure the use of the Botley Boys and Girls Football
Club Pavilion on Fogwell Road. Our Friday night meetings will be held
there from 6th May to 29th July, at our usual meeting times: Cubs from
6pm to 7:30pm, Scouts from 7:30pm to 9pm. We look forward to the
opportunities of our new venue and are thankful for the help of Cumnor
Parish.
Our thanks are also due to all those that gave messages of support and
those who offered us solutions and possibilities to keep functioning
without a hiatus. It is particularly heart-warming to know that Scouting is
seen as such a valuable resource. And perhaps even more exciting
than a new venue is being able to share it with more people from the
local area. Cubs is open to all those aged 810.5, while Scouts is open
to those aged 10.514. We currently have spaces in both sections, so
get in touch for more details.
Equally if an adult volunteer role is
something of interest to you,
whether on the committee, as a
leader, as an occasional helper or
as something as yet unknown, we
would love to hear from you! Or
why not drop in to our AGM on Fri-
day 6th May at Fogwell Road Pavil-
ion.
We are full of plans over the next
few months for both Cubs and
Scouts to get out and about, go
camping, experience water-based
activities, take part in community
engagement, have fun, forge
friendships and make memories.
Maybe our next chapter is the first
chapter in a Scouting story for
someone you know. XVOxford
Scouts@yahoo.co.uk
Tom Freeman
Concerns About Solar Farm Proposal
When we process up to the beacon to celebrate the Queens Platinum
Jubilee on 2nd June, let’s all take a good look at the wide-ranging views
south for 20kms as far as the Ridgeway, because it might be the last
time we see them if an application to build a solar farm on the hill goes
ahead.
A company called Solar2 is proposing to build a 31-hectare solar farm
the size of 45 football pitches on the south side of the hill on which the
beacon stands, green belt farmland owned by All Souls College. It could
also use a further piece of land currently horse paddocks to the
south of the bridleway adjoining Brookes playing fields, above Hinksey
Heights Nature Reserve and in North Hinksey parish.
We all want and need solar power, but this proposal potentially inflicts
loss and damage to other valued environmental and social goods. The
visual impact of rows of panels on this prominent site would be
enormous. The long views from the top of the hill could be obstructed by
six-foot high security fences. The view from the footpaths at the bottom
of the hill would be of a near-vertical wall of solar panels. Because the
site is on a slope, it cannot be effectively screened indeed, hedging at
the top would only further block those views.
The proposal ignores warnings in the solar industry’s own “planning
guidance for the development of large-scale ground-mounted solar PV
systems”. These (by the BRE National Solar Centre) state that “land
selected should aim to avoid affecting the visual aspect of landscapes,
maintain the natural beauty and should be predominantly flat.” and
warn that “the landscape/visual impact of a solar PV farm is likely to be
one of the most significant impacts of such a development. Developers
may be attracted to southerly sloping sites, where solar gain is greatest.
However, such sites are likely to be more visible within the wider
landscape”.
There are other potential impacts. Neighbouring Hinksey Heights
Nature Reserve is a nationally rare and biologically rich alkaline fen,
with other diverse habitats, and home of several rare species. It is much
valued and used by us, the public. How the arrays of panels on the hill
and the paddocks might affect the hydrology of the fen is a serious
concern. Security fences around the sites are also likely to impede the
free movement of animals to and from the reserve.
The electricity produced by the farm would also need to be transmitted
to the national grid sub-station at Osney Mead, via underground high
voltage cables. The developer’s preferred route for these cables would
be to dig a trench along the bridleway, down Harcourt Hill, under the
A34 and across Oxford Preservation Trust land.
Yet despite these concerns, and others, the Vale of White H orse District
Council agreed in December with the developer’s argument that the
impacts would be so limited that an Environmental Statement was not
needed at that time. An Environmental Impact Assessment (including a
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment) will only be required when
the developer submits a formal planning application. The Vale’s
conclusion at the December screening stage that “no significant
environmental impacts have been identified” is baffling; for example,
Hinksey Hill Nature Reserve is not even mentioned in their screening
matrix, although other nature reserves further away are referred to.
Unfortunately, the only time that we, the public, may have the
opportunity to see Solar2’s plans and in many cases, regrettably, to
hear about them for the first time may be very soon. Although BRE’s
planning guidance advises that “the local community should be
engaged, by the developer, at the pre-design, conceptual stage, ideally
utilizing a local exhibition/presentation where community views can be
sought and recorded”, this did not happen. Solar2 will only mount an
exhibition in the weeks before submitting a planning application. This is
likely to be this Spring. Instead, Solar2 has launched a website
https://cumnorsolarfarm.co.uk/the-proposal and is dangling the
prospect of a “community benefit fund”, saying it “would like to hear
from individuals and local groups about their ideas for how a Cumnor
Solar Farm community benefit fund could work for the benefit of the
local community around the farm”.
The hillside is within the boundary of Cumnor Parish Council, which has
been very active in publicizing the proposal to parishioners. It has also
investigated the background and qualifications of Solar2, and its
associated companies, as there is very little information on Solar2’s
main website (see https://cumnorparishcouncil.org.uk/planning).
But North Hinksey parishioners are equally affected, and part of the site
is in this parish. Yet North Hinksey PC has not been nearly so active. It
should be important to ensure people here are informed about what
could happen to these green spaces and to ensure all proposals receive
full and objective scrutiny.
John Magrath
[To be fair, John, NHPC did organize a trip to a local solar farm to see
what was involved. The Sprout will keep a look-out for an actual
planning application. No sign of it as yet. Ed]
Help with Energy Bills
We’re all aware that energy bills are on the
rise. Global gas prices were at record levels
even before Russia invaded Ukraine. When
the energy price cap is lifted from 1 April 2022
anyone on a standard variable tariff is set to
see their energy bill rise by an average of £700/year. Those on fixed
rate tariffs will find their bills stay the same until the end of their contract.
It’s worth taking action now to limit the effect of the price rise as much
as possible. Citizens Advice can help in a number of ways. Our
website contains a wealth of information about energy bills, smart
meters, how to complain to your energy supplier and what to do if you’re
struggling to pay your energy bills. Find it all here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/
You can ring our Adviceline (0800 144 8848) and talk to a trained
adviser about your energy issues. We can help you check whether
you’re entitled to any grants offered by the government or by your
energy supplier, either to help you pay your bills or to improve the
energy efficiency of your home. We can carry out a benefits check to
make sure you’re claiming everything you are entitled to: we discovered
that one client we spoke to recently, who came to us with concerns
about her rising fuel bills, wasn’t claiming the Council Tax support that
she was entitled to. Claiming this will make a big difference to her ability
to pay her bills. We can also offer tailored advice if you’re struggling with
debt.
There are also plenty of simple things you can do to save money on
energy bills. These won’t solve the problem of rising bills but they will
definitely help matters: checking your doors, windows and floors for
gaps where draughts can get in and blocking these, turning down the
thermostat by just one degree, closing the curtains at dusk to help keep
the warmth in, only boiling as much water as you need in the kettle,
turning off appliances such as TVs rather than leaving them on standby,
making sure you use low energy light bulbs and turning them off when
you leave the room, and not leaving mobile phones on charge
unnecessarily. Checking your home’s Energy Performance Certificate
online at https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate should give you
some ideas about how to improve your home’s energy efficiency and
start a conversation with your landlord about how to improve the
insulation in your home.
Caroline B (CA Advisor)
Oxfordshire Scouts at the World Scout Jamboree
Hello, I am Ben Zaccheo, I am 13 years old, I am part of the 4th Oxford
Scout Group, and I will be attending the 25th World Scout Jamboree.
The World Scout Jamboree is an event hosted by a selected country,
that occurs every fou r years. Around 50,000 Scouts worldwide come to
each World Scout Jamboree (WSJ). The UK contingent takes around
4,000 Scouts between the ages of 14 and 18. Many other countries also
attend and it’s a great opportunity to take part in lots of awesome
activities.
The 25th WSJ will take place in South Korea in August 2023. I applied
to take part because I wanted to see and experience other cultures and
activities. I was also keen to go on a plane for the first time! Around 180
other Scouts from Oxfordshire applied and attended a selection
weekend at Hill End to compete for 36 places. We had to take part in
many different activities over the weekend whilst being marked on skill,
behaviour and most importantly (in my opinion), social skills. I had a
great time and met some great people.
At the beginning of March, I found out that I got a place! I am now facing
the challenge of having to help fundraise £160,000 between the 36
successful Scouts. As well as covering the cost of our attendance, this
amount subsidises the fees for Scouts from poor countries, to ensure
that everyone has the chance to take part. We will be organizing lots of
events across Oxfordshire over the next year and we really hope our
local communities will support us. I have already raised over £300 with
my Easter egg raffle for the 4th Oxford, with support from Waitrose, Co-
op and Hotel Chocolat, who all donated prizes. I will also be running a
stall with other WSJ members at the 4th Oxford Family Fun Day at the
Rugby Club on June 18th. I hope you can come along and support us
and enjoy the many activities that will be on
offer.
If you would like to help us achieve our goal
and get us to Korea then you can donate at:
https://wonderful.co.uk/pay?ref=291693
I will provide further updates on my progress
in future editions of the Sprout.
Thank you for your support!
Ben Z.
Deep Sea Beavers
Last weekend I was lucky enough to join the Beavers on their spring
“Under the Sea” Camp, as a weekend helper. They started by arriving
in their fancy dress costumes, in time to learn that David Attenborough
had phoned to ask them to explore an undiscovered part of the ocean.
First they had to build junk
submarines that they could
all fit in, to sail to their
unknown destination. When
they got there, they explored
the sea floor and made
some sea chimes, some
under the sea scenes,
octopuses, and fish.
Unfortunately, there was a
terrible storm that blew them
off course and crashed them
on to a deserted island.
This was not any island though it belonged to the magical fire fairies.
They collected firewood and
built dens to be safe for the
night. Dinner was next, with
fish fingers and chips, followed
by apple strudel, and singing
songs around the campfire
with the fire fairies. Then they
had an unexpected visit from
Olivia the Octopus who read
them bedtime stories to help
them settle down for the night.
In the morning after breakfast,
they lit fires with flint and steel, made water filters (some of which were
surprisingly good); did some sensory activities and also learnt about
rubbish in the sea and helped to clear some out.
After toasting marshmallows, they heard a blue whale noise. They
managed to get the whale’s attention and all linked hands to compare
the size of it. They rode home on the back of the whale just in time for
their parents to collect them. Everyone was exhausted, but I think they
all had a good weekend adventure. Alicia Hodges (aged 12)
Kennington Memory Club
Kennington Memory Club is very grateful to the School Lunch Company
who have been providing hot meals for our members from St Swithun’s
School kitchen since the Club was set up in 2018. This arrangement
worked well, but had the drawback that the Club had to source hot
meals during the school holidays.
We are proud to announce a new partnership with the MacIntyre Oxford
Learning Centre, based in Kennington, which supports people with a
learning disability. The MacIntyre Centre is now supplying us with
delicious hot meals all year round. This provision builds on the Centre’s
aim of helping those they support to develop life skills, such as
consulting recipes, purchasing food and cooking it too, as well as
engaging with the local community. It is great to be working with
another charity based in Kennington and one which is also providing a
service for those who need it.
A reminder of what the Club does our day care sessions, held at
Kennington Methodist Church, provide company, different surroundings,
activities, music, friendship and laughter, and give their carers much-
needed respite from their duties. Phone Helen, our organizer, on the
number below if you know
someone who would like to come.
We have excellent professional
staff, but we are always on the
lookout for new people to join our
band of volunteers, to keep things
running smoothly. If you would like
to help out, contributing to the
experience our members enjoy
each time they attend the Club,
and have a good time yourself,
please contact Helen, on 07852
883496. This could be for a half
day on a Monday or Thursday
once a week, once a fortnight, or
at any frequency that suits you.
More information on our website:
kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk
Isobel Birse
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P22/V0517/HH
106D West Way. Roof extension
with rear dormer and 6 roof lights.
28 February
TDD: 25 April
P22/V0555/HH
3 Laburnum Rd. Demolish garage &
existing extension, build 2-storey
side extension & single storey rear
extension.
3 March
Target
Decision Date:
28 April
P22/V0577/FUL
36 Westminster Way. Change of
use from 6-bed HMO to 8-bed HMO
4 March
TDD: 29 April
P22/V0583/FUL
72 Westminster Way. Change of
use from 5-bed HMO to 7-bed
HMO. Demolish garage &single
storey at rear, build single storey
rear & side extensions.
4 March
TDD: 29 April
P22/V0714/HH
27 Lime Rd. Loft conversion.
18 March
TDD: 13 May
P22/V0647/HH
57 Yarnells Hill. Double storey
extensions to the rear, sides & front
with 2 rear dormer windows. New
windows & dropped kerb.
22 March
TDD: 17 May
P22/V0727/FUL
Variation of
condition 2,
P17/V3275/FUL
The Gables, 6 Cumnor Hill,
Replace guest house and garage
with 9 flats with off-street parking,
covered bicycle and bin storage.
23 March
TDD: 18 May
P22/V0563/FUL
190 Westminster Way. Side
extension making new self-
contained 4-bed house.
28 March
TDD: 23 May
P22/V0774/FUL
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis Club
North Hinksey Lane. Erect
floodlights to 2 hard tennis courts.
29 March
TDD: 24 May
P22/V0835/CM
OXFORD FLOOD
ALLEVIATION
SCHEME
North A420 Botley Rd to south
A423 ring road between A34 to
west & railway line to east including
land between A4144 Abingdon Rd
to the west & River Thames.
A flood alleviation scheme to
reduce flood risk in Oxford .
31 March
Consultation
End Date 9th
May 2022
TDD: 21 April
(?!)
P22/V0784/HH
34 Yarnells Hill. Erect 2-storey rear
extension & a loft conversion with a
raised ridgeline & roof lights.
5 April
TDD: 31 May
Randoms
Cycling volunteers needed
The Botley Bikers are a dedicated team of cyclists who deliver food,
toiletries and other essentials to the homeless and vulnerably housed in
Oxford city centre. We are currently going out every Sunday and alter-
nate Tuesdays, merrily pedalling away up the Botley Road. However,
due to an increased demand for our services, we're looking to add
another delivery and for this we need some more two-wheeled heroes!
Could this be you? If you are
a confident cyclist
free on a Thursday afternoon (4-6 pm). No need to commit to every
week
a team player
in possession of a good dose of empathy
Then we want to hear from you!
The person to contact is Rachel Monks: rachaelmonks@ g m ail.com .
Full training will be given and you're guaranteed to meet some amazing
fellow humans. You'd also be helping in the battle against food waste,
as much of what we hand out is surplus produce that would otherwise
be discarded. It's a win-win situation.
Botley W.I .
Our new programme for the year begins in May and can be seen in full
on our Facebook page. We shall hold a Resolutions and Social meet-
ing on Tuesday, 3rd May, at 7.30 pm, when we shall discuss the resolu-
tion to be put to the national conference in June, that “Women and girls
with Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disor-
der are under-identified, under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed and under-
supported.” W.I.s have been politically active since their foundation,
pressing for health, environmental and social changes in their annual
motions. We will combine discussion with a social evening visitors are
always welcome. On Saturday 14th May we will be opening the Botley
Womens Institute Centenary Extension Project our new extension,
which is now complete.
Alison Jenner
Andrews
It is with real regret that we note that Andrews the Dry Cleaner, where
they also cut keys and replace watch batteries, is closing. This is one of
the really useful old-style Botley shops, which survived the mighty
upheaval of the building works but was defeated in the end. We will
miss you, Andrews. Thanks for staying as long as you did.
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 67.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@g m a il.com
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:
http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Tues/Thurs 9.1511, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Brendan Byrne 792531
brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West
Way, Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening.
Contact csugden@ocrpl.org
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner
Ox.721386
Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142 or
www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Thurs 79pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/
or phone 01865 721026
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see
www.emilyschoirs.co.uk
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
MonFri 7.45am6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 1012.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunte e rs
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Weds at LM pavilion, Daz: 07791 212866 or F’book
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging
Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall
Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
raleighpark@raleighp ark.o rg.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly
Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Seacourt Hall, Saturdays 9:00am3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds Oxf 590510 or 01235 390810
Well-Being Walks, Botley
2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car
park, Arnolds Way. Ashley 07717 714477
West Oxford Bowls Club
Dave Ellerker 07931 603801
wobc.membership@gmail.com
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 103pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
Baptist Hall
1 Church Way
Contact: Diane Melchert 01865 243664
botleybaptistchurch@gmail.com
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise
Contact Maria Brown,
Te l : 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 7 9 8 6 .
SS Peter & Paul Church
Hall, West Way, Botley
Contact: 01865 242057 or
osneybenefice@outlook.com.
Women's Institute Hall,
North Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Te l . 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 5 2 7 3
Seacourt Hall,
3 Church Way
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,
Elms Rise, Botley
Contact: Darren Blase 241254
louiememorialpavilio n @gmail.co m
Oxford Rugby Club,
North Hinksey Village
Contact:. Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane
1st, 2nd, 4
th
, 5
th
Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion
3 rd Sunday 11.30am Matins
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way
Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion
Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit
1st Saturday each month, 45.30pm Messy Church for children and carers
Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
See table above for Church Hall enquiries.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Yarn e lls Hil l
Saturday 6.30pm Mass
Sunday 9.15am Mass
Fr Daniel Lloyd 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way
Sunday Service 11 am.
Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30pm
Choir practice Thursday 2pm
Diane Melchert 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday services held at Botley School 10.3012 noon
Pastor Philip Vickery 01865 864498
calvarychapeloxford@yahoo.co.uk;
www.calvarychapeloxford.org.uk
What’s On
May
May 7th to 15th, Botley Art Weeks
Mon 9th Closing date for Flood Scheme comments
Mon 9th 2.30, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A: Launton
Handbell Ringers, talk and recital.
Sat 14th 10.30, Farmoor Village Hall, Posh Coffee Morning
Sat 14th 7.30, Farmoor Village Hall, Quiz Supper (book tickets
by 11th)
Thur 19th 7.30, Seacourt Hall and Zoom, Parish Council AGM
Mon 23rd 2.30, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: “Keep
Calm, I’m an Air Traffic Controller” Phil Holt
June
Thur 2nd 7pm,Louie Memorial Fields, Jubilee Party, 9.45pm
Lighting the Beacon
Sat 4th 2-6pm, West Way Jubilee Festival at the shopping
centre
Mon 6th Entry deadline for Botley in Bloom
Sat 18th 1-5pm, Rugby Grounds, North Hinksey, 4th Oxford
Scouts Family Fun Day